Taiwan
is the fifth-largest producer of machine tools in the world, yet few people
are aware of the quality and precision available in Taiwanese machines, despite
the size of their industry.
Perhaps some of this difference is due to a lower perception
of quality in Taiwanese manufacturing. “Made in Taiwan” is a common sight on
toys, common household items, and other mass-produced goods. Does this mean
Taiwan’s manufacturing focus is not geared toward high-quality equipment like
CNC machine tools?
It sure doesn’t seem that way.
When ENGINEERING.com toured Yeong Chin Machinery (YCM),
located in Taichung, Taiwan, the company’s massive facility proved just the
opposite. These machine tools are manufactured with accuracy and quality derived
from over fifty years of experience.
The complex consists of multiple buildings, including four
expansive assembly areas, a machining facility, packaging, quality control and
research and development buildings. However, the most notable part of YCM’s
process is that the company maintains an in-house foundry, insisting on forging
its own iron for castings. According to Wing Liu, sales manager at YCM, this is
essential to ensure the accuracy of the finished product.
“The casting is a fundamental [part] of the machine. If you
have good fundamentals, you can have a very good casting, good quality and good
accuracy to build your machine. This is the most important reason we keep the
foundry in-house.”
YCM ages its casting for an average of 2-3 months to
naturally relieve internal forces on the metal. Stress-relieving the castings
provides better machine accuracy by reducing the risk of the machine’s parts warping
or bending after construction.
“We have more than fifty years of experience with this
process,” said Wing Liu. YCM ages small parts, such as those approximately the
size of your hand, for ten to twenty days. Large parts can take up to three to
four months.
Watch the video to see more about YCM’s extensive facility,
and their process for building accurate machine tools.
For more on Taiwan’s machine tool industry, check out Hybrid
Machine Tools - Made in Taiwan.